Another Side of Atlanta

 

It was my final day in Atlanta with my niece, Moriah, and I decided to plan something a little different. I had a late flight going home and I arranged for us to spend the day near the airport. It wasn’t the experience you’d expect,

 

The Atlanta Airport District promotes airport hotels and activities around the area, with ease in getting to the airport. It’s a different look at where to stay in Atlanta without just your typical quick stay hotels without the amenities you don’t often see at airport hotels.

Since my flight wasn’t leaving until 9:00 pm, I had a lot of time after our noon checkout at The American Hotel downtown. Moriah met me at the hotel, and I rolled and she walked to the MARTA train station.

 

Downtown has very convenient MARTA stations. There were actually four within a few blocks of the hotel. The only problem was that the elevators for handicap access were not next to the entrance. It took us a while, and help from a police officer, to figure out how to get to them.

Once we were at MARTA, it was extremely easy to use the automated ticket machines and find the train. I also had no issue getting on the train with my wheelchair. To get to the hotel we were heading to, we needed to change trains at the airport, but it was quick and easy.

 

The Marriott Gateway Atlanta Airport was just an elevator ride down from the train and right in front of us. We had a room for the day to use the amenities and relax. It is a large hotel, but it was Sunday afternoon and quiet. We checked in quickly.

A basket filled with goodies, including snacks, was waiting for us. The room was wheelchair accessible and it was easy for me to get around in. The bathroom was also large, and the shower had a chair in it.

I was most excited about using the pool. Getting in the water is freeing for me because I can “walk” in the water without fear of falling (I’ve had serious falls on the ground). The indoor pool also had a lift to make it easier to get into.

We relaxed in and out of the pool for a while. The sun was coming through the window and kept us warm, even though I couldn’t sit directly in the sunlight. After the pool, we took a walk through the Marriott Fitness Strength Center. It is one of the biggest hotel gym’s I’ve seen.

 

Our dinner wasn’t scheduled until later in the evening, but we were really hungry and decided to go early. The restaurant was Hickory & Hazel and just across a small street at the Renaissance Marriott Atlanta Airport.

The Cast Iron Peach Cornbread immediately caught my eye and we ordered it. It was delicious and we could have finished it all, but there was a lot more food to come. We continued with the Southern cooking theme and were not disappointed.

 

It was hard to decide on an entrée, so we got the two we were thinking about and shared: Buttermilk Fried Chicken, with Mac & Cheese, Collard Greens, and “Chow Chow relish,” and Braised Lamb Shank, with Cheese Grits, and Brussel Sprouts. The portions were huge and everything was delicious.

Dessert was Red Velvet Cake and that was also fantastic. We had lots of leftovers and Moriah took them home. I went back to the Marriott Gateway to put my feet up before heading to my flight.

 

It was an easy one stop ride on the train to the airport. From there, I just rolled over to the check-in area. I usually fly American from Champaign, but Delta has a direct flight to Atlanta from Bloomington-Normal (CIRA) Airport. The schedule didn’t work out for me heading there, but it was perfect for going home.

This was my first time flying Delta in the wheelchair, and it went very smoothly. It was an incredibly fun trip to Atlanta and I’m sure I will be returning soon.

The Attractions of Olympic Park in Atlanta

I started my morning at The American Hotel, a Signia Hotel by Hilton, with breakfast from their Friendship Market. My niece, Moriah met me at about 11:00 for a day of fun at Atlanta’s Centennial Olympic Park.

The National Center for Civil and Human Rights was under construction and closed, but we planned to visit the rest of the attractions that surround the park. A CityPass helped make this easier. With one, I didn’t have to worry about lines to get tickets for each place.

 

Centennial Olympic Park was opened for the 1996 Olympics. It has been maintained quite well and it’s hard to believe it is 40 years old. Remnants and dedications to the Olympics are represented in the middle, including the Quilt of Nations, Gateway of Dreams, and Olympic Ring Fountain.

Our first stop was the Georgia Aquarium. If you have followed my work, you’d know I love Aquariums and visit whenever they are near where I’m staying. This one was only a couple of blocks away from the hotel.

 

The Georgia Aquarium had many ramps and elevators, making it accessible for me and in powerchair. It’s a good thing because it has more animals, among 10 million gallons of water, than any other aquarium. There were tons of exhibits, feedings, and scientific information that included everything from alligators to whale sharks.

From the Aquarium, we went to the World of Coca-Cola. I must admit; I had no idea what to expect from this place. It turned out to be different than I ever imagined and now one of my favorite unique museums in the country.

 

The one things that didn’t surprise me was the history of the popular drink, showed through statues, signs, ad campaigns, and a movie, That first part was led by a tour guide, who was helpful in getting everyone in a wheelchair to the right spot in the theater for the movie about the brand.

After the film, we were on our own to explore more about the drink and start our tastings. You’ll find enough drinking options to leave the World of Coca-Cola with a huge sugar rush. First, head to the Coca-Cola Challenge, where you can create your own drink.

 

The highlight was the opportunity to sample unlimited amounts of more than 100 beverages at Taste It. Beyond the obvious Coke brand, you’ll find proprietary products such as Minute Maid, Fanta, Barq’s Cream Soda, Powerade, Stoney Ginger Beer from Tanzania (my favorite), and Sprite Cucumber from Romania.

We definitely didn’t leave that place thirsty, but we were hungry for lunch. The one thing Olympic Park needs more of is restaurants. The ones in the attractions were small and packed. We did a Yelp search and found a Peri Peri Grill just across the street from the park.

 

I have never been to Peri Peri and it’s nice to add another fairly healthy place to my list for when I can’t find something local. I had a chicken and rice bowl. It was quite good.

After lunch, we went back to Olympic Park. I am not a huge football fan, but I covered college sports for many years--and live in a college town (Go Illini). I wanted to visit the NCAA College Football Hall of Fame.

 

This was yet another museum that impressed me in downtown Atlanta. It dives deeply into the world of college football and provides an area for kids (and adults) to get involved in the sport through interactive experiences.

Moriah and I decided to skip the Centennial Wheel, a large Ferris wheel overlooking downtown. We agreed to meet up for dinner. Two hours later, I was comfortable with my feet up in bed and decided to order something in. We still had another day of fun and food in Atlanta.

I was hosted on this trip by Discover Atlanta, by opinions are my own. 

Girls' Getaway Weekend in Atlanta-Day One

I have flown through Atlanta more times than I can remember, but it has been about 10 years since I got out of the airport. My niece, Moriah, decided to get her MSN in nursing at Emory and I had another good reason to go.

The flights to Atlanta, Georgia, went well. I used frequent flyer miles for this trip. There is a direct flight close to here in Bloomington, Illinois. I did not have enough miles for that roundtrip so I and took American Airlines from Champaign, through Chicago, to Atlanta.

It was the first time I was texted a photo of my wheelchair being unloaded from the plane and it was reassuring. I have previously had issues in Chicago with getting wheelchairs and having mine delivered to me in a reasonable time.

Before the trip I did what I always do first after booking: I make sure I have transportation to the hotel. It turned out to be more difficult than I expected. There is a train from the airport to downtown, but my flight was getting in right at rush hour, and I was worried about traveling alone in my powerchair—with my luggage—through the crowds.

 

I called a few places that either did not have an accessible van or did not have one available. Someone finally recommended an individual named Clyde Fleming. It was the night before my trip when I finally got the information, and I booked him for $90 and hoped it worked out.

Clyde was there when I got out of the airport and we instantly hit it off. He is a veteran who was ready to build a business providing wheelchair accessible rides. He wanted to make it as affordable as possible and was just waiting to get approval on a purchase of vans that could hold 14, including wheelchairs. (His company, CFJS Safe Travels, did come to fruition and has been doing well in the months since.)

 

The Visit Atlanta team set me up at The American Hotel. It was a terrific location, just a couple of blocks from Centennial Park. That is the ideal area to stay in when in Atlanta as all the main attractions we planned to go to the next day are there.

My room had the accessibility I needed. A small, vintage, red refrigerator was within the dresser. It was easy to get around, and the bathroom was large enough to turn around in my wheelchair. The shower was accessible and had a seat. The bathroom was also well-stocked with easy to find towels, lotions, and tissues.

 

My favorite amenity was the digital key, which made room entry much easier for me. This was the first time I had one in a hotel that actually worked. You could also use it in the elevator, so you don’t have to dig for a key when going to the room.

I wanted to pick somewhere special for our first night. I asked around and Sweet Georgia’s Juke Joint came up often. It offers Southern food and live music and is just a short wheelchair ride away from the hotel. I made reservations, which are highly recommended as the place fills up.

 

Sweet Georgia’s was an excellent choice. We started with Hush Puppies and cocktails. I had Miss Ceely’s Punch, with cherry moonshine and pineapple juice. (It’s available with your choice of moonshine.) Moriah had the Sneaky, Sneaky, with sweet tea moonshine, lemonade, and lemon.

For dinner, I chose the Braised Short Rib Brisket. It was tender and delicious and was served with mashed potatoes and Bourbon Glazed Sweet Potatoes. Moriah had the Stewed Oxtails, with Red Rice and green beans. It was her first experience with oxtail, and she enjoyed it.

 

Both Clyde and the receptionist at the hotel said we must have the Peach Cobbler, and we did (with ice cream, of course). I agree it is worth raving about.

The band played throughout our dinner and they were excellent. Carlton & One Nation Express was a cross between Blues and Jazz, danceable while easy listening.

 

The one thing I did not love about the restaurant was the two-hour limit on the table. I thought they might let us stay longer, but we were asked to pay our bill and leave, albeit politely, when the time came. It wasn’t bad because we were both exhausted from a long day.

Moriah walked me back to my hotel and went back to her apartment. We had a big next day planned and it was time for me to get a good night’s sleep.

I was hosted for some of this trip by Discover Atlanta and Atlanta Airport District, but opinions are my own.